Shloka 4
Adhyāya 14: Sudēṣṇā Sends Sairandhrī to Kīcaka’s House (सुदेष्णा–सैरन्ध्री–कीचक संवादः)
तस्मिन् वर्षे गतप्राये कीचकस्तु महाबल: । सेनापतिर्विराटस्य ददर्श द्रुपदात्मजाम्
tasmin varṣe gataprāye kīcakas tu mahābalaḥ | senāpatir virāṭasya dadarśa drupadātmajām ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: Khi năm tháng ẩn thân gần trọn, Kīcaka—vị thống lĩnh dũng mãnh của quân đội vua Virāṭa—đã trông thấy ái nữ của Drupada.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up an ethical warning: authority and strength must be governed by dharma. When desire arises in a powerful person, it can become a threat to others’ dignity and safety; righteous society is measured by how it restrains such power and protects those at risk.
As the Pandavas’ year of incognito living is nearly over, Virāṭa’s commander Kīcaka notices Draupadī (living in disguise). This sight initiates the Kīcaka episode, which will test the limits of concealment and provoke a confrontation rooted in misconduct.